The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (ANSP) holds one of the larger and taxonomically complete entomological collections in North America. It includes some of the earliest North American insect specimens dating as far back as the 1820’s, and parts of the collection, such as for the Orthoptera and related orders (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, cockroaches, mantids, walking sticks etc) the Academy’s collection ranks among the best in the world. The collection is used by scientists worldwide in systematic and ecological research remotely and onsite, in the education of students at Drexel University through graduate and undergraduate studies, and in public programming at the Academy throughout the year through exhibits and special events such as Bugfest.

Note: When searching on Author, not all species entries have Author filled in for the Author field, and therefore a search may result in less than a complete result for a particular Author.

If you wish to inquire about the specimens listed in the collection, Email Jason Weintraub

An added note for searches of type specimens in Coleoptera and Lepidoptera:

The Academy exchanged portions of its Lepidoptera and Coleoptera collections, including some type specimens, with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Lepidoptera) and the Museum of Comparative Zoology (Coleoptera) in the 1960-1970 period. If a type specimen is listed for ANSP in the original published description but is not found in a search of our database, it may be that the specimen is now at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History (Pittsburgh, PA, https://carnegiemnh.org/research/invertebrate-zoology/ ) or the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University (Cambridge, MA, https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/SpecimenSearch.cfm ). Please be aware though that we still have substantial holdings of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, including primary types. If unsure, please feel free to send a request to the Academy’s Collection Manager for Entomology to confirm whether a specific specimen is present or not.

This dataset was developed through a combination of external and internal funding sources. We acknowledge and highlight those sources in the following:

A Digital Species Index of the Entomology Collection

A digital species index to The Academy of Natural Sciences Entomology Collection. $150,000.
IMLS-Museums for America, MA-05-10-0001-10. FUNDED Oct. 2010-Sept. 2014. Additional Academy match of $150,000.

This project, funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. October 2010-September 2014, involved creating a digital index for this large research collection in concert with a facility renovation and re-curation project that was carried out during the same period 2010-2014. Transfer of insect specimens to a renovated storage system provided a unique opportunity to create a master index of all species represented in the collection that can be searched by researchers via the Internet. Indexing through the use of a relational database also has facilitated tracking of changes in specimen storage location, allowed updating nomenclatural changes on the labels of storage cases, and updating nomenclatural changes on digital products including future specimen databases for particular taxonomic groups. The resulting index has enabled researchers around the world to submit on-line queries and determine whether or not specimens needed for ongoing research projects are represented in the ANSP Entomology Collection.

The current listing of fields as of September 2012 in the Excel data input template (aka SPINDEX file) is as follows:

Unique Drawer Number (for drawer), Input by (person), Order, Family, Genus, Species, Subspecies, Author, Subfamily, Tribe, Subgenus, Species group, Count of specimens, Count of paratypes, See type collection, Primary type, Curation (drawer, vial rack, etc), Type of preparation(slide, pinned, vial), Comments, current classification: Family, Genus, Species, Author .

All specimen drawers and similar containers have been barcoded (Fig. 1 ) to allow all species to be located in the collection, and to enable us to monitor pest problems in the drawers. All drawers have undergone cycling of the pinned collection through -20C freezing.

Re-housing of the Entomology Collection, with renovation of the HVAC system and ceiling

Renovation of the Academy of Natural Sciences Entomology Department Research Collection & Associated Lab. $1,051,265. (Principal Investigators J. Gelhaus, D. Otte).

NSF: DEB: Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI). DBI-0963474. FUNDED Oct 2010-Sept. 2014. Additional Academy contribution of $170,400

This award provided funds to improve the storage, environmental conditions and curation of the entomology collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences. The funding provided a new collection storage compactor system for the main part of the entomology collection which has prevented pest intrusion, light infiltration and climate fluctuation while providing needed increase in storage capacity for this steadily increasing collection. In addition, the Academy renovated the HVAC system for this section of the building including the adjoining Ornithology Collection (which is being funded by RAC-P Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Program) which improved climate conditions. The project also funded installation of new clean ceiling tiles to further reduce places for museum pests to accumulate. An additional room also underwent HVAC renovation to allow it to serve as a ethanol collection storage facility for entomology (funded through RAC-P funding). The project was completed in September 2014.